Is it difficult for girls to play the bass guitar?

Question

I want to start playing bass guitar, but I've been told that it's difficult for girls to play, although I don't understand why.

Could someone tell me if this is true, and then explain why?

Answer 1

Put the tip of your thumb on the tip of your nose. Now stretch your hand out and twiddle your fingers. Can you do it? Then, congratulations!! You can play bass guitar!!!

Answer 2

Keep in mind that I'm 6'8" and play over 100 instruments but...
No. It's not difficult for girls to play Bass guitar. It might be a little more work for people of diminutive stature (Under 5'4" tall).
Most of the issues faced by students of any instrument are caused by teachers who insist on their students do things "By the book" instead of helping them adapt adopt and create techniques that will allow the student to fully realize their potential on the instrument.
Realistic problems that ANYONE (I hate sexisim in music.) will face with the bass guitar.
1. It's a big heavy instrument. 7-10 pounds hanging off your shoulder tends to get even large players listing to one side.

2.The frets a widly spaced and the strings are pretty thick. You'll have to work Alot on hand stretching and your finger tips will become amazingly sore in a very short time.

3.Finding Bass teachers can be dificult. You need a Bassist to fully explore the possibilities of the instrument. (Stay the heck away from guitarests who are moon lighting in bass teaching. The general shape and tuning are the only things basses and guitars have in common.)

There's more but I'm trying not to meander. If you want to play play bass don't listen to what other people say, buy a cheap one or rent a good one, try it out and see if it's easy or difficult for YOU to play.

Best of luck!

Answer 3

Could someone tell me if this is true, and then explain why?
No. That is definitely not true.

Music is not a competitive sport. There is seldom a need for masculine power in music, especially on electric bass guitar.

Rhythm, dexterity, and sensitivity are the core skills of music. Females are often better than males at all these core abilities.

Many people are under the misconception that bass requires strong hands to play because the strings are bigger. That is NOT true. The strings are bigger, but they are tuned lower so there is actually less tension on bass strings than there is on guitar strings ( at concert pitch.) Therefore, bass guitar strings are easy to press.

It is true that frets are farther apart on the low end of the bass guitar than a regular guitar. Those who know little about stringed instrument techniques assume that because women have smaller hands, that this is a problem. However, as counter-intuitive as it may seem, that is no problem at all. A knowledgeable player with proper technique has many different ways to finger scales and arpeggios. We all learn to conquer different hand positions and note combinations. There is no reason why a girl cannot learn to do this too.

Assuming you play a well-adjusted instrument, you do not need particularly strong or large hands. You DO need good technique and flexible hands. Playing any instrument will automatically help with that! Lessons from a competent teacher will help too.

Another common misconception about bass is that it is simpler to play than guitar. People assume that because it has fewer strings and because bass players usually play only one note at a time, that the instrument is intellectually less challenging. That is also very wrong!

To play bass well, the player must have the harmonic knowledge of an experienced pianist, the rhythm attainment and steadiness of a drummer, AND the sensibilities of... well, a woman! It may look "Macho" when some simple-minded rockers play, but the truth is; bass is a delicate instrument that requires sensitive technique to play well. Only misinformed amateurs who play poorly could disagree.

One of the greatest studio-bassists in LA was Carol Kay. To look at her, you would think she was the average soccer mom. Then she'd pick up her Fender P-bass and funk! What? Girls can’t play bass?!! I guarantee that after hearing her play, no one would say something so stupidly sexist !

Plus, bass is fun! It puts you in the driver’s seat. You help command the groove with the drummer. If you like to dance, you will love playing bass! If you like drums (or drummers) you will dig it!

Bass guitar is easy enough that you can play most pop songs well in less than a year of regular practice. But it is also challenging. You can bring any level of sophistication and technique to the bass guitar. You can take it as far as you want to go.
If there is any reason why some instruments are associated with certain sexes, it is NOT because of engendered ability. There are some correlations between the instruments that women and men typically play. That has to do with the natural yin and yang of the player and the physical requirements of the instrument. Bass guitar has no gender-specific physical requirements. This boils down to your taste. If you like the sound, the feel or the sheer power of bass, then you should try it!

There are also social conventions that tend to steer girls or boys toward different interests. Stereotypically, Americans tend to think of rock stars as male, drugged, bad-boys with counter-cultural tendencies. Real musicians are not that way. People often confuse rock stars with musicians. That is a result of consumerism and commercial packaging, not natural order. I assure you, just because someone gets rich or famous with guitar in his hands, does not mean he is a musician!

Being a musician is a human proclivity. The more human you become, the more you are drawn toward beauty, truth and spontaneous art. There is no more beautiful, ephemeral, humanistic art form than music. Certainly, any evolving soul can seek that regardless of her sex.

Anyone who tells you that girls cannot play bass (or any other instrument) has gross misconceptions about both musicianship and gender. Don't let them deter you from something you might enjoy! If you feel the calling to make music on any instrument, go for it! Prove them wrong!

Answer 4

The answer is that girls usually don't have the strength, but you can develop it, lift 5 - 10 lb weights, (those little weights that you can buy in any sporting goods store, or even Target) and practice, because the strings on a bass are thick so you have to develop callous, in time you will see them if you practice every day and gain the strength needed to press the heavy strings. There have been a lot of girls who play bass, and if they can do it so can you ! Good luck, and go for it.

Answer 5

The only reason I can think of is that we have smaller hands, but then again they make small bass guitars for smaller people, so that isn't really the problem.

I'm just guessing the guy who told you plays bass and couldn't bear the thought of a chick showing him up, so he decided to be sexist and tell you that you couldn't do it.

Answer 6

Absolutely not!!! That sounds like a huge myth to me. I've played bass for 17 yrs. And love it. I wouldn't consider another instrument, except maybe electric flute. Don't listen to anyone who says it's difficult for females, it's not. Go For It!!

Answer 7

girls can play bass as good as any dude can.it's not true it's difficult for girls to play because it's a matter of passion and commitment.

Answer 8

Was this a guy who told you? I have seen lots of females playing bass. Whatare you waiting for??

Answer 9

i don't see why it would be any different from a man. look at any girl band, they all have bass guitar players.

Answer 10

Yes because we have smaller arms/hands then men